The barrier to entry for becoming a freelancer is quite low. The formula is straight-forward, making it an accessible path for a lot of people. The biggest challenges to consider are what work you'll do and landing the first clients.
That's not to discount the role. It goes to show how tough freelancing is.
There are a ton of people that could enter your space. Each new freelancer brings a wave of undercutting in a race to the bottom. It's maddening staying afloat when so many are a fly-by-night operation.
The hardest challenge isn't getting started but how you'll grow as a freelancer.
The topic of growth is what we're getting at in this post.
What if the first few clients were a fluke? What if the content marketplace you use goes under? These are a few things that set successful freelancers apart.
Every workday should include some form of growth activity. Do at least one and you'll build a solid foundation for sustainability in your industry. You'll also make more money as your expertise and brand grow.
What could these activities include? Consider...
Stagnation is a quick route to mediocrity and obscurity.
You need to learn something new each day:
Don't pick up new skills but put them to the test, too. Practice and find ways to incorporate them into your deliverable skillset. Look at competitors, too, and bring your skills up-to-speed with what they're offering.
It doesn't matter if you're a wiz at whatever you do. If you can't convey your value then you're lost among all the others trying to make it.
You need to practice your soft skills -- examples include:
Don't get comfortable with what you know. Don't dismiss potential clients because they don't understand your industry jargon either. Become a well-rounded business owner by balancing your hard and soft skills.
Communication (a major soft skill) is the bedrock of business.
You'll understand what clients want without jumbling the needs. This, in turn, means you'll deliver a better service. A quality service becomes a reason to retain your freelance services or refer it to peers.
Worked with an important person or well-known business? It's time to leverage and name-drop your connections. It's time to build your brand through theirs.
For the portfolio:
For LinkedIn:
For everywhere else (like job boards):
This lets you do one of the biggest growth activities of...
There are two typical ways to go about getting paid more:
There's nothing wrong with keeping a few of the older clients at older rates. They did, after all, help get your foot in the door and establish your business. But, any good client can respect the value of your work and pay accordingly.
You could send an update to current clients saying rates are going up. If they agree then that's great! If they don't then renegotiate and find a middle ground.
Everyone else?
Get into the habit of telling people you won't work on their projects. You won't take on a project for "exposure". You won't work until you're paid at least half up-front before any work gets done.
Your time is precious -- doubly so as a freelancer!
Apply the 80/20 rule to your freelance efforts:
The 80/20 rule includes clients, too, as some aren't worth the effort.
It's better you spend time doing what you're good at and with whom will pay the rates. This lets you perfect your skills, refine your focus, and stand out. It's the idea behind finding a niche and becoming the go-to in it.
Once you focus on what you're good at you can:
You'll have higher quality clients coming to you vs you sourcing clients. You'll also have fewer problematic clients as your reputation grows.
Don't hoard your money as if it were a paycheck. Divide your freelance income as you would a small business -- with investments.
Investments could include:
Pick a budget you're comfortable with but at least commit some income. This lets you realize business goals without stretching too thin.
Smart business owners outsource tasks like:
...and really anything you don't want to be hands-on with. You'll have time to focus on the core operations while others handle the extras.
Yes, you'll find many entering your space in whatever you choose to freelance as. This will cause some tension as it seems fewer leads are available.
Try to get this out of your head if you want to grow as a freelancer.
You'll have a good chunk of people in direct competition. A lot of them will bottom-out their prices, making it hard to compete. Let them fight for scraps while you attract premium clients that aren't problematic!
Do this not by seeing everyone as a competitor but as a resource.
Work together and find fellow freelancers your services compliment. And vice versa, sending leads to one another. Do so and everyone wins!
What can you do -- right now -- to get a business boost? Get on social and run through these several social promotion tactics. Then, put the strategies from this post into full effect as you gain more and more clients. Good luck!
